Transformer-load indicator



Aug. 28, 1928.

H. S. GANO TRANSFORMER LOAD INDICATOR mvENToR. Har/al1 S. Gqno.

wlTNESSES' AroRNEY Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

HABLAN S. GANO, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC t MANUFACTURING'COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TRANSFORMER-LOAD INDICATOR.

Application led April 21,

My invention relates to temperature indicating devices and more particularly to such devices as are adapted to be employed in connection with transformers or other apparatus embodying liquidcontaining tanks.

One object of my invention is to provide a temperature indicatin device which is adapted to indicate a plurality of critical temperatures.

Another object of my invention is to provide a temperature indicating device that is adapted to expose increasing areas of target in accordance withrises in temperature of a medium surrounding the device.

It is a further obJect of my invention to provide a temperature indicating device that is adapted to expose increasing areas of target in accordance with corresponding changes in the ambient temperature of a portion of the device.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a thermal indicator with means for successively exposing a plurality of surfaces of different colors upon the occurrence of pre` determined thermal conditions in the device being protected.

In temperature indicators of this type, heretofore constructed, slidably mounted targets have been employed which are exposed as a whole upon the occurrence of a critical i thermal condition in the device being protected. U nder many Aconditions it is not only advisable, but necessary to know when a device reaches each of a plurality of thermal conditions. n

vMy invention provides a thermal indicator in which a slidably mounted target is adapt-- ed to be exposed in steps, each step corresponding to a certain predetermined temperature of the surrounding medium. The target may be painted a plurality of colors in order that a visible indication of the exact condition obtaining in the device may be had at a relatively great distance.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure Vl is a face view, partially in section, of a temperature indicator in its closed position and embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof taken along the section line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the temperature indi- 1923. Serial No. 633,803.

cator shown in Fig. l, in the first position in its operation.

Fig. 4. is a face view of the temperature indicator Shown in Fig. l, in an intermediate position.

Fig. 5 is a face view of the. temperature indicator shown in Fig. l, in the extreme position of its operation. y

In the several figures of the drawings, similar reference numerals indicate the same parts. Y

In the 'preferred form of my invention, a thermo-responsive device 1, adapted for insertion into a liquid-f1lled tank, comprises a frame 2; The thermo-responsive device l comprises a threaded bushing V3 in which is secured a tube 4.-, a second tube 5 pivotally secured within the tube 4, a` partition 6 provided with a threaded opening 7, and a bimetallic member 8 supported, as at 9,'in the threadedv opening 7. The free end portion ll of the bimetallic member 8 projects beyond the end of the tube 5 into the frame 2.

The frame 2 comprises a base plate l2 which is secured to the inner tube 5, an outer cover 13, a slidably mounted target I4 and a lever l5 pivotally mounted, as at I6, onthe base plate 12. The freeend portion 1l of the bimetallic member S is secured by a pin 17 to a slot 18 l in the lever l5. The lever l5 is provided with shoulders 2l and 22.

A projection 24 is mounted on the inner face of the target 14. A pair of ears 25 which are secured Vat the upper edge of the target 14E, are adapted, under circumstances, to be hereinafter described to engage the bent-up portion 26 at the bottoni of the base'plate l2. The base plate 12 is crimped, as at 27, whereby it is adapted to engage the lower portion of the leverl.

In the operation of my temperature indicator, the liquid surrounding the tube 4 becomes heated by vany external agency. The resulting thermal changes are transmitted through the tubes 4 and 5 until the temperature of bimetallic member 8 is 'increased with a corresponding characteristic bending or warping. In the form of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the member 8 is mounted in such manner that any bending results in a displacement of the end 11 toward drawingdhe shoulder y22. from the projection 24, whereupon.the` target 14 falls until/the ears engageftheupturned portion 26 of thethe left of Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. By proper design of the bimetallic member 8, the amount of displacement of its free end portion 11 can be made to indicate a predetermined temperature in the liquid surroundinfaf the tube v4.

In the closed position of my temperatureI indicator, shown in Fig. 1, the projection 24 rests upon the end of the bimetallie member 8. Aitera predetermined displacement of the end portion 11, it moves from under the projection 24 with the result tliatthe target 14 moves downwardly, under the influence ot' gravity, until the projection `24 `engages the shoulder 21, as is shown in Fig. 3.

Continued heating of the bimetallic.mem-V ber 8 results in a further displacementot the f end 11 Witlrthe-result that the lever 15 `further movesagainst the friction .of the portion: 27 to the left as viewed in Fig. 3. Vhen this movementis suliicientto .permitsthe shoulder 21 Eto, `bei:olliexlisenraged from `the f proj eetion Q4, the target 14 alls byni'orce'of gravity, until the rprojectionr 24 .engages i 'the shoulder gasfis/rshowninig. 4.,

Further increase in temperature of the'bimetallic member resultsfin,f additional movement ofthe lever 15 tothe left thereby with base plate l2.` Further downward movement of tl1etarget1l4is thereby prevented..` Itis to be observed.that aplurality of interme-H diate shoulders `maybe. placed between theV shoulders 21andf22rinY case. indication of smaller temperature-changes are desirable.

The areas of thetarget 14 that are exposedA ,atl each oft. the` several steps, .are preferably painted different colors, as for` example,

greeinrcdand blue.4 A two-fold visual indication of the thermal condition ofthe device f under controlisthus given, the first beingVA the area ofthe target .114.Which-y is exposed,

and the second being the. color scheme i Which is exposed by the target 14.; ,Notice ofthe',

thermalA condition of the devicennder control.l is fthus ,given-,tof an attendant who may. takel such.i `steps xas .may be deemed Anecessary for relievingsuch conditions.

After the bimetallie element hascooled sufficiently, to` retract4 the ylever 15 into. the

positionishown .by Fig, .1, thetarget 14-may f bei pressed upwardly until the, projection 124 engages the lower extremity of the. l'everl,` whereupon theleverf 15 isdeiiected to the leftgas viewed inligf` 1 againstthe inherent resiliency of the fbimetallic. member 8, Thel projection 24 Slips over' the shoulders 2l `and f 22 and finally comesto, rest above the end 11 of the bimetallie strip 8, asis shown in Fig. 1.

Inmy invention, indication is griven` ofthe progressivethermal changes in a device under control bymeansof the relative movement of atar-get. This target `may be providedwith a-imulti-,colored surface sothat indication of the thermal condition may be seen from a considerable distance.

Various modieations in the system and arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention, and such modifications.aref` intended to be coveredby the appended claims.

I claim as myinvention:

1. In combination, a frame, a levermounted in said frame, a target sli'daljlymounted in said frame, a.thermo-responsive member projecting into said frame for actuating said lever, .said targetbeing adapted to engage said lever at a. plurality of points in accordance' withv changesf inl therconditiomfofa said tliermo-responsive'-member:

2. Incombination, aerame, a Ylever:mount. ed in slaidiranie,` aiargeo slidablj7 mountedI in said frame, la L thermo-.iesponsive .member=: projectngintoasaid frame` and engagingrsaid lever,` said. targetA4 beingyadapted to. .engagew said lever. at Iaiplural ity of .points :in s accordiA ance with changes in the condition of seid; thermo-responsive member,`

3. In combination^,.a;frameyaolever pre` vided with a plurality l ot `shouldeis .mounted inI said frame, .a Ltargetrslidably lmounted-.in` said frame, a tliermoresponsivef: member.A

)rojeeting into'said' frame and engaging-,said lever, said. target;A being, adapted` towsuccesw `sively engager the: several: shoulders; onu saidA lever. f y

4. The, combinationwith aathermo-.respoibsive member comprising a threaded bushingj..

a frame secured to said secondnamedytube,

a levenprovidedwith aplurality oi shoulders mountedom said frame,v a targetwslidably; mounted in said frame, aithermresponsive member projecting-,finto said .frame and engagging` said lever, saidtargetV being adapted` on said lever..

5. Inan; indicaton; a; frame a lever, pro` vided with a plurality of shouldersmountedon `said .fremder target slidably mounted in said frame,l providednvith. means forfselecf. tively` engagingrsaid: shimlders,l :a ,birnetalliomember extending,into` saidaframe. andnenrl gaging; said.leverxwherebyfsaidLtarget iis suo: I cessively` released from theI several-sh ouldersiI and'permitted to-fallto=theenext lowerishoulev der f. ini accordance with, Athe i predeterminedI` onditions of said.,tliermo,responsivef meme.

er. f

6..An indicating. device comprising.. in combination, a` f, gravityfactuated'i vert-ically.: slidablev target,r a pivotally mounted-..1ever.- providedI with means fori-holding saidy target in one of plurality/ ot.successiv.eJ positions in accordance. with .the `angular psition'of 41 iu to successively.:engageI the several. .shoulders .l

the lever relative to the target, said lever being rotatable in a plane parallel to the plane of the target, and a thermo-responsive element for actuating said lever whereby the target may be released in step-by-step movements in accordance with the thermal condition of the thermo-responsive element.

7. An indicating device comprising, in combination, a gravity-actuated vertically slidable target, a pivotally mounted lever, means cooperating with said target and lever whereby said target may be held in a plurality of positions in accordance with the angular position of said lever relative to the target, and thermo-responsive means for actuating said lever to change its angular position in accordance with the thermal condition of said thermo-responsive means, whereby said target may be released from one position to another in successive movements.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 14th day of April, 1923.

HABLAN S. GANO. 

